A collision between an oil tanker and a cargo ship in the North Sea has sparked a large-scale emergency response, after the tanker caught fire following the impact.
The incident occurred around 10 nautical miles off the coast of Hull in East Yorkshire, UK authorities confirmed on Monday.
According to the UK Coastguard, multiple lifeboats, helicopters, firefighting vessels, and surveillance aircraft have been dispatched to the scene as part of an ongoing rescue and containment effort.
The cargo ship involved has been identified as the Solong, a Portuguese-flagged vessel registered in Madeira and en route to the Netherlands when the incident occurred.
“HM Coastguard is currently co-ordinating the emergency response to reports of a collision between a tanker and cargo vessel off the coast of East Yorkshire,” a spokesperson told Euronews.
A coastguard rescue helicopter from Humberside was deployed alongside lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe, and Cleethorpes, as well as a fixed-wing aircraft and vessels equipped with firefighting capabilities.
Emergency teams are working to assess the extent of the damage, contain the fire, and provide any necessary medical aid, though no information on casualties or injuries has been released so far.
Environmental Concerns
The collision and subsequent fire raise potential concerns about environmental damage, especially if oil from the tanker begins to spill. Authorities have not yet confirmed the name of the tanker or whether there has been any leakage into the sea.
Maritime traffic in the area has reportedly been rerouted or delayed as emergency services respond to the situation.
As of now, details surrounding the cause of the collision, the condition of the crew, and the stability of the vessels remain unclear.
This is a developing story, and updates are expected as more information becomes available.
